Four arrested in Valdosta for physical, mental, and financial abuse

Release:

A wellness check that was conducted by a detective and Lowndes County Department of Family and Children Services, results in the arrest of four adults, who had been physically, mentally, and financially abusing a victim.

On May 19, 2025, at 1 pm., a Detective with the Valdosta Police Department received a request from the Lowndes County Department of Family and Children Services (DFACS), to escort them to a residence in the 2500 block of Jerry Jones Drive to assist them with a wellness check on an adult female. DFACS provided the detective with information that there had been allegations that a 37-year-old female at this residence, was being physically abused.

At the residence, the detective contacted Sherri Goode, 44, and Louren Riley, 46. Both Sherri and Louren appeared to be evasive and would not cooperate with answering questions from the detective. Due to their actions at the front door, the detective called for other officers to respond to assist her.

When other officers and detectives arrived, they found the 37-year-old female victim inside the residence, and she needed medical assistance. SGMC Emergency Medical Services responded to the residence, and the female was later taken to the hospital for treatment.

Sherri and Louren were taken to the Valdosta Police Department to speak with detectives. They were later transported to Lowndes County Jail.

Through investigation, detectives found evidence that showed over a significant amount of time, the victim was physically, mentally, and financially abused by Sherri and Louren, along with Sherri’s husband, Kenneth Goode, 46, and the victim’s daughter, Kiera Tolliver, 19.

On May 21, 2025, detectives obtained arrest warrants for Sherri, Louren, Kenneth, and Kiera, for the following charges:

• Kidnapping-felony;

• False imprisonment-felony;

• Aggravated assault-felony;

• Aggravated battery-felony;

• Exploitation and intimidation of a Disabled Adult-felony;

• 4 counts of cruelty to a child in the 1st degree-felony; and

• Battery-misdemeanor.

After obtaining the arrest warrants, detectives received information that Kenneth and Kiera were at a location in Dooly County, Georgia. Detectives contacted deputies and investigators at the Dooly County Sheriff’s Office and provided information on their

location. They quickly located Kenneth and Kiera, taking them into custody without incident.

VPD Detectives met with deputies at the Dooly County Sheriff’s Office and took custody of Kenneth and Kiera. They transported them back to Valdosta, where they were later turned over to Lowndes County Jail.

The victim is continuing to receive medical treatment, at an undisclosed facility. There were four children under the age of 10 in the residence, while this abuse had been occurring. DFACS has taken custody of the children to ensure they are being taken care of.

This investigation, which involves VPD, DFACS, the CAC, the Haven, and the Southern Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office, is still ongoing and more charges will be forthcoming. At this point in the investigation, detectives have not found any evidence that the children were physically abused.

“This is the most horrific case that our department has investigated in most of our careers, and our prayers go out to the victim and the children. The teamwork between all of our community partners in getting needed resources quickly, has been amazing. We also appreciate the assistance from the Georgia Department of Public Safety Motor Carrier Compliance Division and the Dooly County Sheriff’s Office, who did not hesitate to help us locate two of our offenders. We will continue working with our District Attorney’s Office to ensure these callous monsters are held accountable for everything they have done.” Said Chief Leslie Manahan

If anyone has any further information on this case or any other cases, please get in touch with the Valdosta Police Department Bureau of Investigative Services at 229-293-3145, the crime tip line at 229-293-3091, or file a tip online at www.valdostacity.com/police-department. 

Full Article & Source:
Four arrested in Valdosta for physical, mental, and financial abuse 

3 arrested for kidnapping in Novato in ‘conservatorship’ scheme: police

 by: Phil Mayer

(KRON) — Three people were arrested for allegedly kidnapping a patient at a health care facility in Novato on Saturday, the Novato Police Department said. Police believe the crime was part of a scheme in which the suspects tried to gain “conservatorship” of the victim.

The kidnapping was reported at about 11 a.m. Three suspects abducted a patient and assaulted a nurse who tried to stop them, NPD said.

They left the facility and drove towards South Novato Boulevard. Police did not name the facility where the patient was staying.

Less than 20 minutes later, a Marin County Sheriff’s deputy saw the vehicle on US-101 and conducted a traffic stop near the Spencer Avenue exit.

NPD arrived and arrested all three suspects. The victim was in the car, and they were taken to a hospital for precautionary purposes.

An NPD investigation revealed that the victim was under a conservatorship, meaning a court declared a separate person or organization responsible for their finances and personal care. The suspects were not in control, but police believe they tried to fraudulently obtain conservatorship for financial purposes by kidnapping the victim.

The suspects were identified as Michael Roberts, 49, of Dana Point, Laura Boyle, 61, of Mission Viejo, and Paula Burkes, 57, of Mission Viejo. They were booked into jail for crimes including kidnapping, elder abuse, battery, burglary and conspiracy.

Krysta Boyle, 38, of Mission Viejo has been linked to the case as well as a conspirator. NPD recommended the Marin County District Attorney’s office to charge her.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call (415) 897-4361 and mention case NP25-0413.

Full Article & Source:
3 arrested for kidnapping in Novato in ‘conservatorship’ scheme: police

Arrest made for kidnapping and elder abuse in South San Francisco

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, California — Police responded to an apartment complex on Linden Avenue after a woman called for help on June 6, 2024.

Officers determined a 70-year-old resident was threatened with a knife and held against her will by her grandson, 30-year-old Miguel Gutierrez, of South San Francisco. During initial negotiations, Gutierrez forced the victim back into the apartment and barricaded the door, prompting a response from NCR SWAT and the Crisis Negotiating Team (CNT).

CNT negotiated with Gutierrez for approximately six hours, attempting to de-escalate the situation and secure the victim's safe release. As negotiations stalled and concerns for the victim's welfare grew, SWAT personnel conducted a high-risk hostage rescue shortly after midnight. The victim was safely rescued, and Gutierrez was taken into custody without injuries.

Gutierrez was booked into the Maguire Correctional Facility on charges of kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon, false imprisonment, elder abuse, and brandishing a weapon.

A statement from the South San Francisco Police Department read, "A big THANK YOU to our dispatchers, patrol officers, NCR SWAT/CNT teams, and neighboring law enforcement agencies for a safe ending to a highly dangerous situation."

Full Article & Source:
Arrest made for kidnapping and elder abuse in South San Francisco

GBI investigates elder exploitation in South Georgia

54-year-old Jean Allison Pignocco was arrested in Olive Branch Mississippi and booked into the Colquitt county jail, after being accused of exploiting two elderly adults.(WCTV)

By Jaclyn Harold

COLQUITT COUNTY, Ga. (WCTV) - Jean Allison Pignocco, 54, was arrested in Olive Branch, Mississippi and booked into the Colquitt County Jail after allegedly exploiting two elderly adults.

According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Pignocco is related to both victims, who are each 85-years-old. She’s said to have unwillingly taken them from their homes in South Georgia to Mississippi.

Investigator Jamy Steinberg says money was being transferred from their accounts to others they didn’t control.

An investigation in August led the GBI and the Colquitt County Sheriff’s Office to Pignocco. She’s being charged with two counts of exploitation and intimidation of a disabled adult, two counts of felony theft and one count of kidnapping.

Advocacy group Georgia Pines shared this kind of thing tends to happen when vulnerable people lose their trusted support system. Clinical Director, Dr. Richard Hughes said the pandemic may be making things worse as many seniors are more isolated because of the virus.

“I can think of several cases both professionally and personally where elderly people have been separated from their support groups because of becoming positive for COVID and people being concerned about that, and when there’s that void obviously anybody can step in,” said Dr. Hughes.

Both victims have been brought back to Georgia, and Dr. Hughes said you don’t have to prove that abuse is happening to report it. Instead, if you suspect something you’re advised to contact advocacy groups like Georgia Pines and allow the system to investigate the issue.

Full Article & Source:

GBI investigates elder exploitation in South Georgia

Pair accused in armed break-in of Palm Springs senior’s home must stand trial

A parolee and a woman, who allegedly broke into a Palm Springs residence where she once worked as an aide, assaulted the 78-year-old resident and forcibly restrained the homeowner and her caretaker prior to ransacking the home for valuables, must stand trial on several felony charges, a judge ruled Thursday.

Indio residents Juan Antonio Beltran, 25, and Itati Maribi Ceja, 24, were arrested in November 2018 at the scene of the alleged break-in.

Following a preliminary hearing at the Larson Justice Center in Indio, Riverside County Superior Court Judge James S. Hawkins ruled that prosecutors presented sufficient evidence for both defendants to proceed to trial on burglary, robbery, kidnapping and elder abuse charges.

Beltran also faces a felony charge of witness intimidation, and sentence-enhancing allegation that the offense was committed with a firearm.

The prosecution on its own motion opted not to pursue a charge of false imprisonment of a hostage against both defendants, and a charge of criminal threats against Beltran.

Hawkins kept Beltran’s bail at $1 million and Ceja’s at $100,000. Both defendants remain in custody, with a post-preliminary hearing arraignment scheduled for May 27.

Officers were sent about 1:45 a.m. on Nov. 14, 2018, to the 2200 block of South Sunshine Circle following a 911 call from the location, according to the Palm Springs Police Department.

Randall Bailey testified Thursday that he was working as a caretaker at Carolyn Auburn’s house that night. He said they were dozing off in the family room when a man busted in the home, and forced him into another room and tied him up.

Bailey testified that the man, later identified as Beltran, had “what appeared to be a gun.” He said Beltran took his wallet and asked him “where’s the gold?”

Police allege Auburn, who has dementia, was tied up, gagged and assaulted during this time, although Bailey testified he was in the other room and did not witness it.

Officer Johnathan Mosley testified that a nurse later said Auburn suffered facial swelling and bruising, and lost two teeth. She was also vomiting blood, Mosley said.

No gun was recovered, although police reported finding ammunition in Ceja’s car near the location, Officer Mario Kasal testified.

Bailey was employed by Home Instead, a Palm Desert-based senior care agency, at the time of the break-in.

Palm Springs police Officer Barron Lane testified that Ceja was also employed by the same senior care agency before she was fired the day before the break-in. She worked for Auburn for two weeks before she was removed from the account at Auburn’s request due to performance issues, he said.

Bailey testified that he was eventually able to free himself and call 911. Police responded in force, surrounding the house, and the defendants were arrested after allegedly attempting to flee out the back door.

They would later claim in interviews with police that they were chased to the location, where they were let inside by Bailey, although Ceja allegedly later changed her story and admitted the robbery was her idea. “All of it was me,” Kasal said Ceja told him.

Beltran has prior felony convictions including burglary and evading arrest.

Despite Ceja having no prior felony convictions in Riverside County, she is currently also facing a murder charge. She is one of three defendants charged in the shooting death of Jason Diaz, who was found on the sidewalk in front of a home in Indio on June 24, 2020. She has pleaded not guilty in that case.

Full Article & Source:

Pair accused in armed break-in of Palm Springs senior’s home must stand trial

Elderly woman falls prey to robbers in Augusta kidnapping, exploitation case

If you know anything about the robbers who used this car, the Richmond County Sheriff's Office wants to hear from you.(WRDW)

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Authorities say an elderly woman was targeted by three people in a robbery by intimidation, kidnapping and exploitation.

The victim was not physically harmed, authorities said.

Although it happened Feb. 1, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office released information about it Tuesday.

The incident began at a Walgreens at 3228 Wrightsboro Road, authorities said.

A vehicle was occupied by a white male wearing a worn blue dress suit with a side satchel, a black female wearing gray pants and tan jacket who was carrying a green purse (possibly armed with an unknown type firearm), and a heavyset black male or female who wore sweat pants and a hoodie.

Authorities released a photo of the car they used.

Investigators are seeking any information regarding the vehicle or the identities of the three suspects.

Any information concerning these subjects or this vehicle, please contact Investigator Ryan Ferguson at 706-821-1027 or any on-duty investigator at the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, 706-821-1020 or 706-821-1080.

Full Article & Source:

Elderly woman falls prey to robbers in Augusta kidnapping, exploitation case 

Paso Robles man charged with elder abuse

Charles Courtmanche

A 40-year-old Paso Robles man is in jail after allegedly holding his mother hostage while threatening to hill her with a knife on Friday evening.

Shortly after 7 p.m., the sister of Charles Courtemanche told police her brother was holding her mother at knife point. While on the phone with her mother, the caller said she heard screaming.

Before officers arrived, the elderly woman was able to escape the home. She was visible shaken and told officers multiple times that she thought she was going to die, police said.

Unable to contact the suspect by phone, officers waited outside the residence. Early the next morning, Courtemanche walked out of the residence.

On Saturday morning, officers arrested Courtemanche and booked him into the San Luis County Jail on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, kidnapping, damaging a wireless device and threats made to terrorize. His bail is set at $50,000.

Full Article & Source:

Paso Robles man charged with elder abuse

Former Sarasota County Deputy re-sentenced for crimes against elderly woman

Former SCSO Deputy Frank Bybee.

SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) -A former Sarasota County Deputy was re-sentenced Friday for his crimes against an elderly woman back in 2017.

Last year, a conviction of kidnapping was overturned in the case against Frank Bybee, which led to the re-sentencing. Originally, he received 15 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of kidnapping and exploitation of the elderly.

Under the new sentence, Bybee received 10 years in prison. He was given probation for the Fraudulent use of a credit card and computer crime to defraud. Once released he will have perform 500 hours of community service.

Bybee befriended an elderly woman in Sarasota who he took money from, accessed her personal emails and financial records, and played a role in having her temporarily committed by using the Baker Act. Bybee appeared in court in a wheelchair due to a stroke he suffered from brain surgeries to remove a tumor.

The elderly woman in this case died in 2019.

Full Article & Source: 

Former Sarasota County Deputy re-sentenced for crimes against elderly woman

Durant mother, son sentenced for robbery of elderly woman

SHERMAN, Texas – U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Cox announced Sept. 17 that a Durant mother and her son have been sentenced for federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas.

Lori Majors, 45, pleaded guilty on Dec. 13, 2019, to kidnapping and aiding and abetting and money laundering conspiracy. She was sentenced Sept. 10 to 480 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III.

Max Majors, 21, also of Durant, pleaded guilty on Dec. 12, 2019, to kidnapping and aiding and abetting. He was also sentenced Sept. 10 to 240 months in federal prison by Mazzant.

“The 20- and 40-year sentences in this case demonstrate how seriously federal law treats elder abuse,” Cox said. “Let this case serve as a warning, and hopefully a deterrent, to others who might seek to exploit or victimize our nation’s seniors.”

According to information presented in court, on April 15, 2018, Lori Majors unlawfully and willfully combined, conspired and agreed to extort, kidnap or rob an 83-year-old victim and demand ransom.

In committing or furtherance of the commission of the offense, Lori Majors traveled in interstate commerce from Texas to Colorado, and used a motor vehicle as a means, facility and instrumentality of interstate commerce.

Justin Majors, on or about March 29, 2018, rented a vehicle from Sherman Enterprise Leasing Company in Sherman, Texas, and drove to Colorado Springs, Colorado, with a woman named Cheryl Ann Jordan with the intent to commit the robbery with other family members.

After arriving in Colorado, Justin Majors and Jordan met with relatives who were already there and finalized plans to rob the victim at her home with Lori Majors, Bryan Majors, Max Majors and Ashleigh Stonebarger, each of whom agreed to move forward with the plan and split the proceeds of the robbery.

On April 5, 2018, Justin Majors, Max Majors and Jordan went to the victim’s residence, which Justin and Max Majors entered through an unlocked dog door. Jordan remained in the vehicle waiting for the men to complete the robbery.

Justin and Max Majors found the victim asleep in bed, woke her, said that they had her son tied up and would hurt him if she did not tell them where her money was located.

The victim told the Majors that there was money in a downstairs safe.

Max Majors confined and extorted the victim as Justin Majors went downstairs to look for the safe, which he pried open with a pry bar that he had brought, before removing over $350,000 from it.

Max Majors kept the victim confined in a bathroom until he and Justin Majors left the residence with the money.

The two men split the proceeds from the robbery with Lori Majors and Bryan Majors.

The robbery and extortion resulted in a loss of $500,500 to the elderly victim.

Lori and Max Majors were indicted by a federal grand jury on Feb. 6, 2019 and charged with federal kidnapping-related violations.

In October 2017, President Trump signed into law the bipartisan Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act, the purpose of which is to increase the federal government’s focus on preventing elder abuse and exploitation.

The Department of Justice also launched the Elder Justice Initiative, through which it has participated in hundreds of criminal and civil enforcement actions involving misconduct that targeted vulnerable seniors.

In March of this year, the department announced the largest elder fraud enforcement action in U.S. history, in which more than 400 defendants in a nationwide sweep were charged. The department has also conducted hundreds of training and outreach sessions across the country.

The Majors’ case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; El Paso County, Colorado Sheriff’s Office; Durant Police Department; and the Sherman Police Department. It was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas in Plano.

Full Article & Source:

Durant mother, son sentenced for robbery of elderly woman

Local families share struggles of getting mental health help for loved ones

Click to Watch Video

SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) - Two weeks ago, the kidnapping of an 11-year-old girl in Springfield prompted an amber alert, a statewide search, and a community effort to bring the child home safely.

In a matter of hours, both the child and the kidnapping suspect were tracked down, but in the days following Miguel Rodriguez being charged with kidnapping, his family raised concerns about his mental stability.

In fact, they told Western Mass News the 24-year-old Rodriguez had been struggling with mental illness for years and that efforts to medicate him were unsuccessful.

"Multiple times, cops have come here, because of him," Miguel Rodriguez's sister tells us.

In an interview with Western Mass News weeks ago, the sister of Miguel Rodriguez says it wasn't unusual for her family to call the cops on her brother.

Though she didn't want to show her face on camera, his sister told us that Miguel suffered from schizophrenia and paranoia, which resulted in hospitalizations and restraining orders against him from his own family members.

"Last time with the hospital, before he got let go and released, and I said, 'Please don’t release him. He is not mentally stable'," explained Rodriguez's sister.

But she says her brother, Miguel, was let out of the hospital and on January 15, the day an 11-year-old Springfield girl was kidnapped while walking home, Miguel's sister recognized the car in the amber alert and had to call the cops on her brother once again.

"He was not medicating himself. We tried. I want people to understand and know that my mom has tried various times to get him Roger's Orders to control him," stated Rodriguez's sister.

Now facing kidnapping, assault, and rape charges, Miguel Rodriguez is being evaluated in a hospital, but his family said their attempts to force Miguel to take anti-psychotic medication through the courts were unsuccessful.

"In order to have a Rogers guardianship, you need a guardianship, so the court has to make a base determination that the individual is incompetent to manage their affairs," Michelle Feinstein, an estate attorney for Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, stated.

Michele Feinstein is an estate attorney, who handles Rogers guardianship in the local courts.

She says it's an uphill battle for families to get their loved ones declared mentally incapacitated in the courts.

"We place a great premium in our society on individual independence and liberty, so a guardianship is effectively eroding someone’s liberty and it’s not something that the court takes lightly," said Feinstein.

"He was an adult, had an episode, was diagnosed as schizo-affective bipolar, psychotic," local resident Kristina says.

No one knows the difficulty of getting guardianship over a loved one like Kristina.

"He doesn’t want help," continued Kristina.

According to Kristina, her brother has refused to take anti-psychotic medication for more than fifteen years.

"He's smart, so he knows his rights. He knows that he doesn’t have to be treated if he doesn’t want to, He wouldn’t say, you know, 'I’m going to hurt myself or hurt anyone', but he would break into homes. [It’s been twenty years and you still haven’t been able to get any kind of Rogers guardianship?] You need a psychologist or a psychiatrist orders or input in order to get Rogers guardianship and we can never get that," stated Kristina.

Because her brother refuses to see family members when admitted to hospitals, Kristina says it's become a repeating cycle of dangerous behavior and hospitalization.

"They just medicate him and let him go and that’s happened probably about fifteen times," says Kristina.

Without the guardianship, Kristina says she was forced to watch her brother's condition deteriorate.

"Talking about women, we clearly saw that he might, he could do something. [What are your concerns for him?] My biggest concern is his safety. I’m afraid he’s just going to sleep outside and freeze to death one night. I’m afraid he’s going to starve to death, because he doesn’t feed himself," said Kristina.

And those concerns only multiply when she says the only other alternative for care is behind bars.

"I was really hoping he would go to jail just to get the help he needs. I’m worried for others. I’ll admit I’m afraid he’ll just, you know, break into another home. I reached out to you with the recent case against Miguel Rodriguez, because I thought there wasn’t really help until something bad happens and that’s not fair. It’s not fair to society. Would he do something like that? Maybe," added Kristina.

Full Article & Source:
Local families share struggles of getting mental health help for loved ones

Jury pool shrinks for attempted murder trial of former Sarasota deputy

SARASOTA — The pool of around 140 potential jurors who were interviewed Monday in the trial of a former Sarasota County Sheriff’s deputy charged with attempted murder, was reduced to around 65 who will return Tuesday for a final round of questions.

Jury selection was the beginning of the trial for Frank Bybee, 46, who is facing 18 felonies, including attempted murder, exploitation of the elderly, burglary, theft and kidnapping. He faces a life sentence if he is convicted of the first-degree felony charge for attempted murder.

His trial was postponed for 20 days after his attorney withdrew and a former Manatee County judge, John Lakin, joined the defense team causing a conflict of interest with 12th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Thomas Krug. Lakin is currently under investigation by the Florida Bar for actions taken while he was on the bench.

Krug recused himself from the case and Chief Judge Charles E. Williams asked the Florida Supreme Court to appoint a judge from outside of Sarasota County. Judge Donald H. Mason of Charlotte County was assigned to the case that was original scheduled to begin Sept. 5.

Assistant State Attorneys Karen Fraivillig and Art Jackman, and defense attorneys John Lakin and Ronald Kurpiers, must now choose 12 jurors and two alternates to sit on the jury.

The trial will likely begin Wednesday and is expected to last for two weeks.

Prospective jurors were questioned in two different sessions Monday, with attorneys deciding after each session whether hardships and established opinions produced by jurors were enough to strike them from the roster.

Many jurors raised their hands when asked if they had read or watched coverage of the Bybee case. Some said they already had preconceived notions of guilt and could not be impartial.

Among the reasons jurors gave for being unable to render a fair verdict were being caretakers themselves for disabled relatives, “personal feelings,” and one said a family member was convicted of murder and died in his jail cell. The statements came after jurors were informed that the case could take up to two weeks. Some expressed worries over financial hardships.

“I just could not do it,” said the female juror whose family member died in jail.

Another female juror said she decided she could not be fair after hearing the charges in the case, which involves an elderly woman.

A male juror said he is retired and takes care of his mother.

“I bathe her, toileted her, and fed her,” the male juror said. “You don’t want me on that trial.”

A juror in the afternoon session said she lost a lot of work during Hurricane Irma and is responsible for watching her grandchild.

The hurricane hardship excuse was the most common reasoning for many jurors, besides vacations, seeking to be exempt from the trial. Judge Donald H. Mason of Charlotte County said that nearly every juror present will suffer a financial inconvenience. He said it jury duty was part of living in America.

The attorneys released most of the jurors who cited hardships.

Several jurors felt they could be fair, but made the judge aware of possible issues that could arise during the trial.

“I wanted to let you know that my husband is a police officer,” a female juror said.

Two additional jurors just wanted the court to know they worked with the elderly, but felt “presumption of innocence” was not a problem.

Judge Mason and Fraivillig told the panel to be blunt with their answers.

Fraivillig asked the potential jurists if they would participate in the selection process. When they did not reply, she asked again, sparking a “yes” response.

“The most important thing for you to do is be candid with us,” Fraivillig said. “We are looking for jurors that have no preconceived notions or biases. We need you to be a blank slate.”

Two jurors said they had family members in law enforcement — one said they could be fair, the other said they might be tempted to side with a law enforcement officer.

A female juror said her uncle is a sheriff’s deputy being called as a witness. She said even if he was a plumber, she would trust her relative’s opinion.

Long after the potential jurors were asked if they had conflicts, two men said that they might have issues with “the system.”

“I have had dealings with State Attorney and sometimes I see how things go,” a male juror said. “Sometimes I agree and sometimes I don’t agree — because I am exposed to it, I’m probably not the best person.”

Both sides agreed to strike one female juror who told the court, “If I’m not getting paid, I will have an attitude.”

A male juror in the afternoon session asked whether he could make a fair judgement based on the charges he heard in the case said, “No, I can’t. I personally feel this guy is a low life.”

Another female juror says she works at the Sheriff’s Office and has been subjected to “negative opinions” about Bybee.

A male juror who said he was had to attend a paramedics test to become a firefighter was also excused. He received soft applause from the crowd when Judge Mason released him.

Bybee, an 18-year employee of the Sheriff’s Office, was arrested Jan. 23 after a 79-year-old woman called the Sheriff’s Office for help on Oct. 21.

Bybee, a patrol deputy, was sent to the call and took the woman to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, where the former deputy prayed with her before he left, according to an investigation.

About two months later, the woman reported that Bybee had inserted himself into her personal life and had become too controlling. She asked the Sheriff’s Office for help in severing the relationship with the deputy.

Bybee was placed on administrative leave Jan. 9 and three days later, according to court documents, he went back to elderly woman’s home and attempted to kill her.

The Sheriff’s Office terminated his employment on Jan. 31 after enough information was discovered through an internal affairs investigation to sustain allegations of conduct unbecoming and conformance with laws, on top of criminal charges.

Bybee has been in custody at the Sarasota County Jail on a $380,120 bail.

Jury selection is expected to last until at least Tuesday.

Full Article & Source:
Jury pool shrinks for attempted murder trial of former Sarasota deputy

Charles Pascal's Email to Nevada Attorney General Paul Laxalt

To Nevada Attorney General Adam Paul Laxalt:

2/14/17

In 1992 your grandfather Senator Laxalt assisted me when I was living in Carson City, Nevada. I was appreciative for the assistance provided by the former Nevada Senator. Today I’m writing you about what appears to me to be a serious inconsistency in the law.

After reading the February 10, 2017 article regarding the disciplinary proceedings being conducted against Justice of the Peace Melanie Andress-Tobiasson, it became clear that I should bring this matter to your attention.

In 2009 my mother-in-law, Marcy E. DuDeck, was kidnapped by her son, Lance DuDeck. She was taken against her wishes to Nevada. The kidnapping was committed against an existing Nevada court order, which stated my mother-in-law, Ms. DuDeck was to remain in California at Sunrise Senior Assisted living for the rest of her life.

After the kidnapping, Commissioner Jon W. Norheim delayed in filing his ruling to return Ms. DuDeck to the California residence, which was previously ordered by Norheim’s Clark County Family Court in May of 2007. Please note Commissioner Norheim himself wrote the 2007 court order which he violated. Commissioner Norheim’s failure to act on behalf of Mrs. DuDeck clearly demonstrated his intent not to enforce his own court order.

Mrs. DuDeck became ill as a result of this kidnapping and died alone at Del Mar Gardens in Las Vegas. The kidnapping was conducted on August 4, 2009, which was two days before a California evidentiary hearing was to take place in a Los Angeles County Court. The hearing would have exposed numerous disturbing facts about Mrs. DuDeck’s guardian, Jared E. Shafer, revealing that Mr. Shafer failed to pay IRS taxes for the DuDeck estate, that he billed the estate for visits which never occurred, testimony to the fact that Mr. Shafer himself bragged about ordering the kidnapping, witnesses to statements made by Mr. Shafer that he was bragging about bribing judges and the fact that Patience Bristol, who was not a licensed guardian at the time, was being paid from the DuDeck estate for guardian services when she was not Ms. DuDeck’s guardian. As you probably know, Bristol is serving a three to eight year sentence in state prison for exploitation of senior citizens.

By revealing our story in the beginning of this email will illustrate the main point, which I’m about to argue, which states that LGBTQ citizens are granted more civil rights than other citizens.

Justice of the Peace Melanie Andress-Tobiasson was involved in a case involving LGBTQ rights. Judge Tobiasson is facing the type of accountability for her actions which victims of families, who do not fall into the LGBTQ category, have been demanding from Nevada for close to a decade. The disciplinary proceedings filed against Justice of the Peace Melanie Andress-Tobiasson sends a strong signal to families who do not fall into the LGBTQ category. It appears families who are not LGBTQ are not provided the same rights as those citizens who fall into the LGBTQ category.

Commissioner Norheim has not faced accountability for his failure to enforce the law in our case and in many other cases I’m familiar with. Jason Hanson is still waiting for justice. Becky Olvera Schultz is suing in a federal court to recover moneys paid from her father’s estate without court orders. In the Olvera case, Commissioner Norheim stated in a court video that he wouldn’t enforce NRS Chapter 160 pertaining to veterans when Mr. Olvera was a WW2 veteran.

When Commissioner Norheim refused to enforce NRS Chapter 160, did he rule this way because Olvera wasn’t LGBTQ? Could this be the reason why the law was never enforced to protect veteran Mr. Olvera?

The North family lost everything as a result of actions by another guardian, April Parks. Elizabeth Indig’s mother is another individual who lost everything and has never received justice. All of the cases listed above are not LGBTQ.

The Supreme Court’s guardianship commission to look into guardian abuses in Nevada has resulted in no arrests or convictions of professional guardians or disciplinary actions against any Family Court judges. Unfortunately, Justice of the Peace Melanie Andress-Tobiasson will face punitive action for her failure to apply the law.

This letter to your office will be widely published as well as your answer to it. I sincerely hope equal justice will be applied to citizens who are not LGBTQ.

~Charles P. Pascal

Marcy and Charlie

See Also: NASGA: Marcy DuDeck, NV/CA

Was an 81-Year-Old Wife, Mother and Grandmother, Abducted by Her Own Daughter or Rescued from a Bad Situation?

Fourough Bakhtiar is wearing a magenta cardigan and a beige springtime hat in the Lorain County Justice Center in early April. Looking across the courtroom from behind big, thick-framed glasses, the 81-year-old wife, mother and grandmother is the center of her family's universe, though none of them, except her son-in-law Phillip Presutto, are here this morning. There's a good reason for that.

She is, however, joined by her attorney, Stephen Wolf, and her current legal guardian, Zachary Simonoff, who was appointed to manage Bakhtiar's affairs last year after much legal wrangling.

"I've probably had no other case that has been as contentious as this one and that has spurred as much litigation as this one," says Probate Court Judge James Walther.

He is not being hyperbolic. The fate of Bakhtiar's guardianship and sizable estate has been the gravitational center of a lengthy legal battle that's torn her family apart.

Since April 2013, for example, she has not lived with her husband, Mehdi Saghafi, in their Seven Hills home, and no one can agree whether that's a good thing for her or not. Saddled with signs of dementia, according to three physicians, and "vulnerable to exploitation," according to court records, even Fourough herself doesn't seem to be sure.

Five months ago, Judge Walther issued final orders to settle the legal war, the gist of which was this: Fourough, deemed incompetent by the court, was in need of a guardian. Her daughter, Jaleh Presutto, long estranged from the family, had brought her mother to live with her and her husband, Phillip Presutto, in Amherst and fought for the guardianship and initiated a divorce against Fourough's husband. The other family members, Fourough's husband and sons, fought back and claimed that Fourough was being corrupted, cajoled in her weak state to make decisions she wouldn't otherwise make, intentionally separated from her family.

But there's hardly an end in sight, and so up for debate this morning, as always in this probate case, is Fourough's money: Jaleh is seeking $20,000 from her mother's bank accounts to help her legal defense for allegedly abducting her mother. She was once Fourough's legal guardian; she's recently been indicted on five felony counts in Cuyahoga County for the elderly woman's kidnapping and abduction.

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Was an 81-Year-Old Wife, Mother and Grandmother, Abducted by Her Own Daughter or Rescued from a Bad Situation?

Man charged with kidnapping, forgery, exploitation claimed he was elderly victim’s ‘personal assistant’

SOUTH SALT LAKE – An elderly man was allegedly subjected to months of terror after he allowed a man he described as being homeless move in with him, and a deal to exchange room and board for personal assistance allegedly became a case of elderly abuse, forced confinement and forgery that resulted in the victim losing, “pretty much everything he owned and everything he worked for in his life.”

According to a statement of probable cause, 39-year-old Aaron Gibbs of South Salt Lake has been charged with kidnapping, exploitation of a vulnerable adult and two counts of forgery. A man named Loran Sant, 41, is listed as co-defendant. Police are still seeking both individuals, who may have fled the state.

According to a statement from the victim, a 72-year-old man from South Salt Lake, the man encountered Gibbs, who was homeless at the time, in mid-2012. Gibbs told the victim he was worried about people who take advantage of the elderly. The victim, who suffers from Parkinson ’s disease, agreed to let Gibbs into his home and provide room and board in exchange for his assistance. The victim stated he signed a written agreement with Gibbs but never saw the agreement again.

“The guy is warning him to be careful about, you know, people trying to take advantage of elderly people,” said Gary Keller, an executive officer and spokesman for South Salt Lake Police Department. “Anyway, that’s exactly what this guy did. He got settled in the house, brings in friends… they basically stole all his property.”

Shortly after making the deal for room and board, Gibbs allegedly moved three friends into the home, including his co-defendant Sant, without the victim’s permission. The statement alleges Gibbs and Sant began to mistreat and control the victim and would even lock him in his room for as long as a full day and would withhold food. Sant allegedly told the victim if he didn’t comply he, “would have the Aryan Nation put holes in him and throw acid on him and that they would then ‘bury him in the ground.’”

The victim said the threats prevented him from reporting the crimes. At this time, Gibbs also threatened to kill the victim if he did not surrender his truck to Gibbs, which the victim said he refused to do.

At one point during the months of abuse, the victim allegedly overheard Gibbs talking to someone about killing the victim, so he fled his home.

“He gets to the point where he is fearing for his life, he actually leaves and lives on the streets for a number of weeks,” Keller said of the victim.

The victim sent his son to his home to collect some of his property, and after several weeks of living homeless he called a friend who put him up in a hotel and contacted his family—who moved the victim to a retirement community.

South Salt Lake police responded to the residence November 5, 2012 on a complaint of theft, where an officer found Gibbs—who told the police he had been the victim’s personal assistant for the last 6 months and that, because the victim had been unable to pay him, the victim had signed over some of his property. Sant was present, and several other people were there helping Gibbs move property out of the home. Gibbs showed police a list of items he claimed the victim had signed over.

“We’ve only talked to the suspects just on the initial call,” Keller said. “We went over there, got some information from them, listened to their story about him being a personal assistant, and then we haven’t been able to find those people ever since. They have absconded, possibly out of the state.”

The statement of probable cause then goes on to say that in February of 2013 the victim’s daughter contacted police and gave them a list of her father’s property that Gibbs had taken, which included the victim’s truck and trailer. A detective verified that the truck and trailer were registered to Gibbs at that time, but when contacted Gibbs said he had the truck but could not register it because the victim wouldn’t give him the title.

The victim’s daughter showed police the titles to the truck and trailer. The title for the trailer had been filled out, purportedly by the victim, transferring the trailer to Gibbs as a “gift release” on October 30 of 2012. The victim stated that he did not sign this document and that his signature was forged.

The detective then obtained a bill of sale for the truck from the DMV, which showed the victim assigning the truck to Gibbs. According to the statement of probable cause, “[victim] could not remember having signed that document, but does recall signing documents for [Gibbs] under threat of bodily harm.”

The victim also showed police a document, again purportedly signed by him, that granted ownership of various property to Gibbs and the total amount of those items is estimated in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The victim stated the signature was forged and that Gibbs and Sant had threatened to kill him if he didn’t sign.

“Unfortunately for our victim, he pretty much lost everything he had,” Keller said. “Luckily, he is living out of state now, and close to his daughter… He is doing well, healthy.”

Keller said they have been investigating and trying to get the District Attorney’s Office to screen charges since about May of 2013.

“You’d have to contact the District Attorney’s Office, see what the delay was there,” he said. “I have to commend our detectives, they did an excellent job. They were determined, they were persistent, and they kept calling back, calling back, seeing where we were on this case, and I realize that, you know, workloads peak and die down, but in this time it seemed like everything else was ahead of it… The good thing is the charges have been filed.”

Keller said they are still searching for the men and believe they may have fled the state. He said often when elderly people are targeted in scams the scammers pose as contractors and things began with some kind of project, like repairing sprinkler systems, roofing issues or cracks in concrete driveways. Keller said they encourage people to look out for those who may be vulnerable.

“If you have elderly friends or family, check on them once in a while,” he said. “You know, I don’t know how they became estranged from their… He has a daughter and a son, a son that is actually in town here, but, check on your parents or grandparents, wherever they may be and just make sure they’re OK, if there’s anything they need help with.”

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Man charged with kidnapping, forgery, exploitation claimed he was elderly victim’s ‘personal assistant’

Palo Alto Police Alleged to Have Kidnapped Autistic Daughter 12 Years Ago

The city of Palo Alto will go to trial next month over a lawsuit filed by a couple who says a police detective abused her power and wrongfully took their autistic daughter away from them 12 years ago. But the Palo Alto city attorney’s office contends that the police officer was just doing her job.

The daughter, now 42, now lives in the San Andreas regional center in Campbell, a state run home for the developmentally disabled. The police officer accused, Detective Lori Kratzer, no longer works for Palo Alto police, but the city is still on the hook in the lawsuit.

The trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 3 in San Mateo County Superior Court, according to the couple’s Lawyer, David Beauvais.  The city council is scheduled to discuss the lawsuit, which stems from a November 2001 incident, in closed session on Monday.

In November 2001, Jeffrey and Elsie Golan lived in a trailer at 809 San Antonio Road in Palo Alto with their epileptic, developmentally disabled, autistic daughter Nancy, who was 31. They were starting businesses at the rented office space.

 

‘Happy, simple, gregarious’

Nancy spoke a few words, but could dress, feed herself and go to the bathroom on her own. “She was generally a very happy, simple, gregarious, lovable, charming, outgoing person… capable of feeling and experiencing all normal emotions.” according to the lawsuit.

Nancy was well cared for, according to the suit.  Her parents watched her around the clock, took her on long walks and try to get her out to interact with other people whenever possible.
“Nancy always came first,” the Golins’ lawsuit stated.

On Nov. 15, 2001, Nancy Golin woke up from taking a nap in the family’s van and wandered away while her mother was in the bathroom.  It wasn’t the first time she had walked away without warning, in fact it happened dozens of times before, by all accounts. The Golins called police, who searched all night with dogs but didn’t find her.

 

Police declare home a crime scene

In the morning, police, taking direction from Kratzer, swarmed the couples abode. There were as many as 20 police officers and 10 patrol cars there, according to the Golins lawsuit. Police photographed the van, looked for the Golins daughter in a nearby dumpster and took photos of the van, which they referred to as a “crime scene,” according to the Golins lawsuit.

Police also investigated the couple, but didn’t read them their Miranda rights or formally arrest them, the Golins’ Lawsuit said.

Kratzer told the couple that police needed to take Nancy to Stanford hospital for a checkup, according to the lawsuit. The couple claims that the detective never indicated that she was taking Nancy away because she suspected they weren’t caring for her.

After being brought to Stanford for a mental evaluation, she was put in the psychiatric ward. A year later, she would be placed in a residential care facility. She would never live with their parents again.

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Palo Alto Police Alleged to Have Kidnapped Autistic Daughter 12 Years Ago

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FreeNancy.com

NASGA:  Nancy Golin, California Victim

Tonight on T.S. Radio: Collateral Victims of Abusive Guardianships

Our guests are Daniel Ryan and Marcia Southwick

The traumatic effects of having your precious loved one kidnapped and imprisoned by this blatantly corrupt industry in legal, yet lawless, human trafficking for profit and power.

There is no nightmare or Hollywood horror film that can compare to having my fiancé and soul mate permanently removed from my life forever… As in every case of kidnapping, the first concern is for her well- being. That NEVER changes. Also, there’s the ever-present sense of urgency to rescue her from her captors.

The utter disbelief, sleepless nights, loneliness and loss, accompanied by waves of fear, worry, anger and hopelessness continue to haunt my daily existance with little mercy since that day 2 years ago when they strapped her to a stretcher and removed her from her home, her life, and my life until she’s either dead or destitute!

APS, the guardian, her attorneys, the judge, and the care home owner have colluded to keep her prisoner for life. Why? Because she saved for her golden years and to cover up her rape we reported when she was in a rehab facility being treated for a tailbone injury. There are 4 stages of grief: Denial, Anger, Bargaining and Acceptance. I can’t seem to get past the first 3 because she is still alive and I refuse to lose hope…

5:00 pm PST … 6:00 pm MST … 7:00 pm CST … 8:00 pm EST

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Linda Kincaid Reports: California Attorney General Kamala Harris Ignores Heinous Elder Abuse

AG Kamala Harris

In June 2011, the family of Alzheimer’s patient Carol Hahn begged for help from Attorney General Kamala Harris. Family reported two individuals from Riverside based financial services firm Leivas Associates forced entry into Carol’s home, removed her from her home, and hid her from family.

Reports from San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and records from San Bernardino County Court (CONDS100023) from 2010 establish that Carol’s step-granddaughter placed Carol at assisted living facility Wildwood Canyon Villa. The step-granddaughter instructed Wildwood to prevent Carol having visitors or phone calls. Carol was isolated from loved ones for fifteen months. With assistance from Riverside attorney Jaxon Miller, the step-granddaughter seized control of Carol’s entire $1M estate.

Attorney General Kamala Harris refused to investigate. In August 2014, Carol’s family submitted thousands of pages of evidence obtained through civil discovery.

The documents substantiated aggravated kidnapping, false imprisonment, isolation, physical restraint, chemical restraint, neglect, financial abuse, and indicators of sexual abuse.

Vincent DiCarlo of the Attorney General’s office again refused to investigate.

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California Attorney General Kamala Harris ignores heinous elder abuse

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NASGA:  Carol Hahn, California Victim

Authorities: Disabled man kidnapped, beaten: Victim's guardian charged after DSS visit

The guardian of a mentally disabled man faces multiple charges, including malicious castration, after a Department of Social Services visit Wednesday.

The disabled man was found with severe injuries over most of his body after DSS arrived for a visit, according to the Cleveland County Sheriff’s office.

Charles Troy Newton, 50, of Casar, was arrested on charges of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious bodily injury, kidnapping, assault by strangulation, abuse of disabled or elderly inflicting serious injury and malicious castration.

An anonymous call lead DSS to Newton’s door step to investigate, said Cleveland County Sheriff Alan Norman.

The disabled man was taken initially to Cleveland Regional Medical Center and then transferred to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. The man had several broken bones, fractures and bruises.
Newton was arrested Wednesday evening.

Authorities are still trying to determine the duration of the alleged abuse.

“We are attempting to determine (how long) as the investigation is ongoing,” Norman said Thursday.
Newton, who authorities identified as the disabled man's guardian, was the only other person that lived in the home at the time of the reported assault and abuse, according to officials.

“This is a sad situation that has occurred. The investigation shows at this time that the victim could have been assaulted over a number of days,” Norman said. “Thank God someone called when they did or this could have been a homicide investigation.”

Newton is being held on $150,000 bond.

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Authorities: Disabled man kidnapped, beaten: Victim's guardian charged after DSS visit

New Jersey Considers Adopting New Elder Law Protections

If lawmakers in New Jersey adopt a newly proposed law, the state will join about 30 others that have enacted so-called anti-”granny snatching” legislation. Known as the New Jersey Adult Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Jurisdiction Act, the proposed law would make it much more difficult for family members with incapacitated elderly relatives to circumvent the state adult guardianship protections.

When a state court appoints an adult guardian for an elderly person, it typically appoints a family member to that position. With granny snatching, a family member who was unhappy with the guardianship determination can move the elderly person to a new state and ask a court in that state to name the family member as the guardian. If the court agrees, the new guardian will effectively from the old guardian’s rights because the old guardian was given powers under a New Jersey court and not the new states court.

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New Jersey Considers Adopting New Elder Law Protections

Man Acquitted of Kidnapping his Mother from Assisted Living Facility

A Cascade County jury has acquitted a South Dakota man of charges he kidnapped his mother from an assisted living facility in Montana.

James Wainscoat was arrested last August in California after he took his 93-year-old mother from Renaissance Senior Care in Great Falls. Prosecutors argued the woman was kidnapped because he could not legally make decisions for his mother, who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

Wainscoat told the Great Falls Tribune he was acting on his mother's wishes and wasn't aware of the legal guardianship or Alzheimer's diagnosis until later.

Wainscoat's mother, Troy Wainscoat, now lives with one of her daughters in California.

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SD Man Acquitted of Kidnapping Mother